Top 10 Korean Actors

Who are the top ten Korean actors? As with all top ten lists, that depends on who you ask. But the following men have made a name for themselves as some of the best actors in South Korean television and film.

Ahn Sung-kee. Koreans call Ahn Sung-kee the “National Best Actor of Korea.” Ahn, 59, began his career as a child actor in the late 1950s. He has appeared in nearly 100 films. He won multiple awards for “The Misty Village” (1982) and “Deep Blue Night” (1984).

Choi Min-sik. Choi Min-sik, 49, made a name for himself in theater before he became famous in films. The actor’s movie breakthrough came in 1997, in the South Korean drama “Our Twisted Hero.” Choi is also known for various Korean television dramas.

Han Suk-kyu. His distinctive minimalist style makes Han Suk-kyu, 46, a respected actor among his peers. His popularity peaked in the 1990s, with movies like “The Moon Of Seoul” (1994) and “Green Fish” (1997). His TV characters are icons of Korean television’s golden era.

Im Ho. Im Ho, 41, is a popular Korean film and television actor. His best-known role is King Jungjong in the 2003 television series, “Dae Jang Geum,” which aired in the United States as “Jewel in the Palace.” Im also appeared in the popular 2001 romantic comedy, “My Sassy Girl.”

Jang Dong-gun. Jang Dong-gun, 38, is a successful South Korean actor and musician. His blockbuster hits include “Friend” (2001) and the award-winning Korean war movie, “Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War” (2004).

Ji Seong. Ji Seong, 33, is a Korean actor best known for his role in the South Korean television drama, “Save The Last Dance For Me,” which aired in 2004 and 2005. His first movie role came in the 2002 comedy, “Whistling Princess.” His most recent film is the 2005 thriller, “Blood Rain.”

Kwon Sang-woo. Kwon Sang-woo, 34, is a South Korean actor and model known for popular Korean films like “My Tutor Friend” (2003) and “Sad Love Story” (2005). Kwon is best known for his role in “Stairway To Heaven,” a Korean television drama that aired in 2003 and 2004.

Park Shin-yang. Park Shin-yang rose to fame in the popular 2004 television series “Lovers In Paris.” The award-winning actor, 42, is also well-known for his film roles in “The Uninvited” (2003) and “The Big Swindle” (2004).

Song Kang-ho. Song Kang-ho, 44, began his acting career without any professional training. His film career got a boost in 1997 with the Korean gangster comedy, “No. 3.” The 1999 blockbuster “Shiri” soared the actor into stardom.

Yu Ji-tae. Yu Ji-tae, 34, is a South Korean actor, director, and model. He became well-known nationally very early in his career, thanks to several successful film roles. His most popular movies include “Attack The Gas Station” (1999) and “Ditto” (2000). Internationally, Yu is best known for his role in the Korean thriller, “Oldboy” (2003).